Supervisory system



H. P. CLAUSEN.

SUPERVISORY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 27, 1916- 7 1,337,753; Patented Apr- 20,1920.

//7 V6/7 fan Hem y C/az/se/z UNITED s'mrns PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY P. CLAUSEN, F MOUNT VERNON, NEW'YOBE, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SUPERVISORY SYSTEM.

Application filed November 27, 1916. Serial No. 133,627.

To (/15 whom. it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY P. OLAUSEN, a

, citizenof the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supervisory Systems, of'which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to a supervisory system to be used in connection with telephone systems of the automatic type.

' It is the objectof this invention to provide means to convey information to. a special operator if a switch fails to function properly at any stage of its operation.

A feature of the invention resides in the.

to the fact that an operator will be signaled under the following conditions:

First, if the called party does not answer within a reasonable period of time;

Second, if the called party is busy and the calling subscriber fails to release the connection, with the result that the busytone is allowed to operate for more than a predetermined length of time;

Third, if a switch fails to move in response to the primary set of impulses;

Fourth, if the switch responds to the primary set of impulses but fails to respond to the secondary setof impulses; and

Fifth, if the subscribers call correctly operates the brush-carrying mechanism, but the ringing current fails to start.

It is thought that the invention will be best understood from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing the invention is shown applied to a connector circuit.

The operation of the circuit disclosed in case of a successful call will first be described.

It has been assumed that the calling subscribers lines are arranged to be extended directly to the connectors by means of line finders, the brushes of such a finder being indicated at 4, 5 and 6. In practice the calling-linewould be extended to the connector by means of a selector or selectors; These have been omitted for the sake of simplicity.

The subscriber at substation l, desiring a connection with the subscriber at substation 2, removes his receiver from the hook,-

whereupon his line will be extended to the connector by means of the line finder whose brushes are shown at 4, 5 and 6, and which operates in the well-known manner. As soon as the calling line has been extended to the connector, relay 7 is energized over a circuit extending from grounded battery,

upper winding of relay 7, lower armature and back contact of relay 8, finder brush 6 and its associated contact, over'the loop of the calling subscribersdine, finder brush 5 and its associated contact, upper armature and back contact of relay 8, lower winding of relay 7, to ground. Relay 7 is energized and completes an energizing. circuit at its armature and front contact for slow release relay 9. p I

' The subscriber now operates his impulse transmitter, indicated at 3, to send the first series of impulses. This first interruption of the line circuit causes the denergization of relay 7 and completes a circuit from ground, armature and back contact of relay 7, lower armature and front contact of relay 9, which, being slow to release, retains its armature during the short interruptions in the line circuit, winding of relay 10, windingof' primary stepping magnet 11, sidevswitch Wiper 12 in its first position, to

energizing circuit for escape magnet 13 from grounded battery, upper winding of escape magnet 13, armature and front contact of relay 10, to'ground. Relays 9 and 10. being slow to release, remain energized during the sending of the first series of impulses and relay 9 at its upper armature and front contact maintains ground on the release trunk over finder brush 4 to prevent the release of the finder. Stepping magnet 11 is alternately energized and denergized in response to the im-' pulses to move the brush-shaft a desired number of steps in a primary direction. Upon the termination of theimpulses, relay 7, remains energized and, after atime, slow release relay 10 is denergized and opens the circuit of escape magnet 13 which deenertion.

side-switch wiper 12 in its second position,

to grounded battery. Relay 10 completes a circuit for escape magnet 13, as before, and remains energized during the sending of the impulses, while stepping magnet 15 advances the brush-shaft in a secondary direction in response to the interruptions in the line circuit.

At the conclusion of the second series of impulses slow release relay 10 is again deenergized and provides a test circuit for the escape magnet. This circuit extends from grounded battery, upper winding of escape magnet 13, armature and back contact of relay 10, winding of relay 14, upper armature and back contact of test relay 14:, side-" switch wiper 16 in its second position, and test brush 17. i

If the line called is idle, the idle condition will result in the absence of ground upon test terminal 18, and since the test circuit of escape magnet 13 is opened at this point, the escape magnet will deenergize and release the side-switch wipers into their third posi- In the third position of the side switch a circuit will be completed for relay 19, from grounded battery, winding of relay 19, outer upper armature and back contact of magnet 13, side-switch wiper 16 in its third position, to ground. Relay 19 at its armatures connects the line conductors to the connector brushes 20 and'21. A circuit is now completed for ringing relay 22 from grounded battery, side-switch wiper 12 in its third position, upper armature and back contact of ringing cut-off relay 23, winding of relay 22, interrupter 24, to ground. When the brushes of the interrupter 24 are on conducting segments, the relay 22 will be energized, and completes a ringing circuit to the called substation, this circuit extending from a source of alternating current indicated at v25, outer upper armature and front contact of relay 22, upper armature and front contact of relay 19, connector brush 20 and its associated contact, the loop of the called subscribers line including the substation bells, connector brush 21 and its associated contact, lower armature and front contact of relay 19, inner upper armature and front contact. of relay 22, to

' ground.

The intermittent operation of relay 22 results'in the projection of ringing current over the line at desired time intervals.

Whefi the called subscriber answers and removes his receiver from the hook, an energizing circuit for relay 8 will be completed when relay 22 is in a deenergized condition, this circuit extending from grounded bat tery, lower winding of relay 8, upper outer armature and back contact of relay 22, upper armature and front contact of relay 19, connector brush 20 and its associated contact, the loop of the calling subscribers line, connector brush 21 and its associated contact, lower armature and front contact of relay 19, inner upper armature and back contact of relay 22, upper winding of relay 8, to ground.

The'energization of relay 8 causes the re.- versal of the direction of current flow in the calling subscribers line to operate a polarized message register (not shown) or similar device in the well-known manner. This current reversal is accomplished through the upper armature and front contact and inner lower armature and front contact of relay 8.

At the outer lower armature of relay 8 a circuit is completed for ringing cut-off relay 23 from grounded battery, side-switch wiper 12 in its third position, winding of relay 23, outer lower-armature of relay 8, and offnormal contact 26 to ground.

Off-normal contacts 26, 27 and 28 are closed when the switch makes its first pri mary step, contact 29 being opened at the same time.

Relay 23 energizes and locks itself to ground at contact 26 through its inner lower armature and front contact. armature it permanently opens the circuit of ringing relay 22 and prevents the reopera tion of this relay. The connection is now complete and the subscribers may converse. At the termination of the conversation both parties replace their receivers, the replacing of the calling subscribers receiver resulting in the deenergization of relay 7. causing, in turn, the denergization of relay 9. Relay 9 at its upper armature removes ground from the release trunk, which results in the release of the finder in the wellknown manner. At the same time a circuit is closed for release magnet 30 from grounded battery, off-normal contact 27, lower armature and back contact of relay 9, arma ture and back contact of relay 7 to ground. The release magnet causes the restoration of the switch and remains energized until its sired line is busy. In that case ground will At its upper be connected to test terminal 18 through side-switch wiper 16 of some other connector in its third position. The escapemagnet 13 will now remain energized, and since relay 14 is included in its circuit, relay 14 will also be energized, causing the application of busy-tone to the calling line. An alternating current is applied to relay 8 over a path from grounded battery, condenser 31, coil 32, middle lower armature and front contact of relay 14, upper winding of relay 8 to ground. The inductive action of this current on the windings of relay 8 causes a tone to'be transmitted over the calling subscribers line through condensers 33 and 34. The calling subscriber thereupon replaces his receiver and causes the release of the connector as previously described.

The operation of the circuits shown will now be described, in case the switch fails to operate correctly, or if the operation is such as to require some form of supervision.

The means for informing a supervising operator that the called subscriber has not answered within a predetermined time interval will first be discussed, it being assumed that the call has been successfully set up and that ringing current is being applied to the called line. At this time a circuit will extend from grounded battery, winding of slow pull-up relay 35, off-normal contact 28, side-switch wiper 36 in its third position, lower armature and back contact of ringing relay 22, winding of slow pullup relay 44, lower armature and back contact of relay 23, off-normal contact 26, to ground. Relay 35 is of a type such that it will close its contacts only after having been energized for a predetermined period, but/will restore to its normal condition quickly upon any opening of its circuit. A form of a dash-pot relay would be suitable for this purpose. Relay 44 is preferably of the thermo type and will require perhaps two or three minutes to attract its armature. Short interruptions in its circuit, however, will not interfere with the cumulative action'of this relay. Therefore, in the circuit above traced, each denergiza; tion of ringing relay 22, due to the operation of interrupter 24, will cause the restoration of relay 35, and it will not be sufficiently energized to operate its contacts.

Relay 44, however, continues to build up and when it attracts its armature a circuit is completed from grounded battery, lamp 37, armature and front contact of relay 44, interrupter 38 to ground. The lamp 37 is caused to flash in this circuit. The lamp 37 is individual to the connector shown, and an operator, whose cord circuit is indicated at 0, upon observing the-flashing of the lamp. may insert a plug 39 into a jack 40- associated with lamp 37, and to which lead multiples of the trunk terminating .in the connector shown. She inay then converse with the calling subscriber and inform him that the called subscriber does not answer. In this way the switch is not caused to remain in service for an undesirably long period of time.

If the called line has been found busy and the calling subscriber fails to release the connection, the supervisory operatorwill be informed. in the following manner.

1 It is to be observed at this time that when the busy relay 14 was energized it established a lockingcircuit for itself through its innermost lower armature and contact, this circuit extending from grounded bat- .tery, upper winding of escape magnet 13,

armature and back contact of relay 10, winding of relay 14, inner lower armature and front contact of rela 14, ofi"-normal contact 26, to ground. here fore, if the switch is not released within a given time after the application of the busy tone, relay 35 will be energized 'over a circuit from grounded battery, winding of relay 35, oil"- normal contact 28, side-switch wiper 36 in its second position, outer lower armature and contact of relay 14, to ground. Relay 35 upon energization closes 'a circuit for lamp 37 from grounded battery, lamp 37, outer armature and front contact of relay 35 to ground; At the same time a holding circuit for relay 9 is completed at the inner armature and front contact of relay 35. The operator at 0, upon observing the lighting offlamp 37, inserts plug 39 into jack 40, as before, and upon hearing the busy signal may inform' the calling subscriber that the line is busy. Since relay 14 r is locked up independently of the busy or 35 will remain energized and at its inner armature maintain ground on the circuit of relay 9 to prevent the release of the switch after the calling subscriber has replaced his receiver. The connector will, therefore,

- remain in its actuated condition and may be inspected with a view to determining whether the busy tone apparatus is operating properly. v I The operator is able to ascertain the approximate nature of the trouble by the manner in which the lamp 37 is operated and by plugging in on the connection. If the lamp flashes, she will know that the trouble is merely due to the failure of the calling subscriber to release the connection in case the called subscriber does not answer within a giventime. If the lamp burns steadilyand she hears the busy tone upon plugging in, she will' know that the calling subscriber has failed to release the connection upon hearingthe busy tone. If, however, she plugs in upon observing the steady burning of lamp 37 and does not hear abusy tone, she will know that the trouble is more Serious and can take steps to have the switchinspected and the trouble removed.

If the switch should fail to move in a primary direction in response to the first se ries of impulses, the operator will be informed in the following manner: Upon the deenergization of slow release relay 10 the escape magnet 13 will not deenergize, since a locking circuit will be present through its lower winding and lower armature and front contact, this circuit extending from grounded battery, winding of relay 3 5, normally closed contact 29, which has not been opened since the brush shaft failed to move, lower armature and front contact of escape magnet '13, lower winding of escape magnet 13, to ground. This circuit locks the side switch in position 1, and also allows relay 35 to energize, signaling the operator as before, and also preventing the release of the switch after the called subscriber replaces his receiver in response to the directions In ceived'from the operator at 0, after she has plugged in the connection. It is to'be noted that the connector is again held in its actuated condition to allow inspection.

If, now, we assume that the switch operated correctly in response to the first series of impulses, but failed to move in a secondary direction upon receipt of the second set of impulses, the operation will be as follows: Upon conclusion of the second set of impulses, relay 10 will-denerg'ize, but if the switch has not moved in a secondarydirection escape magnet 13 will not denergize, owing to a locking circuit which exists through its lower winding from grounded battery, secondary ofl-normal contact 41, side-switch wiper 42 in its second position, lower winding of relay 13, to ground. The contact 41 is closed until the brush shaft is moved in a secondary1 direction; This looking circuit serves to old the side switch in position 2, and a circuit is completedfor rela 35 from grounded battery, winding of re ay 35, primary off-normal contact 28, side-switch wiper 36 in its second position, outer lower armature and back contact of relay 14, inner upper armature and front contact of escape magnet13, to ground. Re. lay 35 again operates to attract the attention of the supervisory operator and lockthe switch in its actuated condition as before.

It is possiblethat trouble may arise evenafter the switch brushes have been successfully placed in engagement with the terminals of called lines, due tothe failure of the ringing current to start. This would happenas a result of the failure of relay 22 to energize, and would result in a circuit being established from grounded battery, winding of relay 35, off-normal contact 28, side I switch wiper 36 in its third position, lower armature and back contact of relay 22,

winding of relay 44, inne'r lower armature and back contact of relay 23, off-normal 'contact 26, to ground. The relays 35 and 44 are now connected in series, but the relay 35 will energize before relay 44, and operate its contacts to attract the attention of the opas previously described.

The invention has been shown-applied to erator and hold the switch against release,

a connector circuit, but is not limited to use with connector circuits, since it can be readily applied to other circuits. v

The structure of the switch described may to interconnect two lines and means'to variably operate said signal in accordance with the nature of the trouble to notify said I operator of the approximate nature of the trouble.

2. In an automatic telephone exchangev system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnecting said lines, and -automat1c means to event the release of said switch in case it fails to operate correctly.

' 3. In an. automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnecting said lines, automaticmeans to prevent the release of said switch incase it fails to operate correctly, and means to maintain said switch in that stage of operation at which incorrect operation occurred.

l4. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnectin said lines, a supervisory operators position, means for signaling said supervisory operators position if said -sw1tch fails to function properly,

and means actuated simultaneously with said signaling means to prevent the release of said switch.

5. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnecting said lines, a supervisory operators position, a signal thereat, a slow actingrelay, a second slow acting relay, a divided circuit'for said signal, one of the branches of said circuit being controlled at contacts of said first relay and the other-branch of said circuit being controlled at contacts .of said second relay, and means to energize one of said relays to operate said signal in case said switch operates incorrectly.

6. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnecting said lines, a supervisory operators position, a signal thereat, a relay slow to operate but quick to release, a second relay slow to act but not affected by short interruptions of its circuit A while being energized, and means including said relays to operate said signals in a distinctive manner to notify said operator that the switch has failed to operate correctly and to notify said operator of the approximate nature of the trouble.

7. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnecting said lines, a supervisory operators position, a signal thereswitch in a primary direction, means to move said switch in a secondary direction, means to signal a called subscriber, means to inform a calling subscriber that a called subscribers line is busy,

and means to operate said signal in case anyof the previously incorrectly.

8. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, switch for interconnecting said lines, a supervisory operators position, a signal thereat, means to move said switch in a primary direction, means to move said switch in a secondary direction, and means to operate said signal if said switch fails to move in either a primary or a secondary direction.

9. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnecting said lines, a supervisory operators position, a signal thereat, and means for operating said signal if a called subscriber fails to answer within a predetermined time interval.

10. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic mentioned means operate an automatic at, means for operating said switch for interconnecting said lines, a supervisory operators position, a signal thereat, means for informing the calling subscriber that a called line is busy, and means for operating said signal'if the calling subscriber fails to release the connection in response to said informing means.

- 11. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnecting said lines, a supervisory operators position, a si nal thereat, means to variably operate sai signal in response to the occurrence of various kinds of trouble which may arise during operation of said switch, means to signal a called subscriber, and means to operate said signal if said signaling means fails to operate.

12. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnecting said lines, a supervisory operators position, a signal thereat, and automatic means for operating said signal if a called subscriber fails to answer within a predetermined time interval.

13. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnecting said lines, a supervisory operators position, a signal thereat, and means including an interrupter for operating said signal in a distinctive man'- ner, if a called subscriber fails to answer within a predetermined time interval.

14. In an automatic telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, an automatic switch for interconnecting said lines, a supervisory operators position, a signal there signal continuously, and means including two interrupters for operating said signal intermittentl if a called subscriber fails to answer wit in a predetermined time interval;

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of November, A. D. 1916;.

HENRY P. CLAUSEN. 

